Marlana Patrice Pugh Hamer

December 26, 1952 – May 23, 2025

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Marlana Patrice Pugh Hamer, affectionately known as “Aunt Marti,” passed away in San Tan Valley, Arizona, leaving behind a radiant legacy of love, poetry, language, and liberation.

She was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on a snowy, magnificent morning—December 26, 1952, the day after Christmas. According to family, Marlana came into the world smiling, as if she already knew the beauty, brilliance, and purpose that would define her life.

Even from the beginning, Marlana radiated a quiet brilliance and joyful spark—one that only grew brighter with time, touching countless lives with her laughter, wisdom, and unforgettable presence.

To some, she was a lyrical genius, a poet. To others, a sister, a beloved aunt, a passionate educator, or a fearless activist. Marlana wore many incredible hats—both literally and figuratively—with elegance, boldness, and joy, embracing every role she played with intention and flair.

A lifelong lover of books, Marlana found joy, knowledge, and companionship in the written word, which deeply shaped her journey as both a writer and a teacher.

She was the beloved daughter of Louvenia Elizabeth Pugh (née Gillispie) and Wiley Anthony Pugh. The youngest daughter among her siblings, Marlana was preceded in death by her dear sister Michelle and her cherished younger brother, Wiley Timotheus Pugh. She is survived by her older sister Jameela.

Marlana’s love for her family was unmatched. She often bragged—rightfully so—about her nieces and nephews: Wiley (Erica), Sean (TraShana), Muhammad (Melissa), Hussein, Waheedah (Musa), Hameedah (Kyle), and Dennis. She adored each of her more than 24 grandnieces and grandnephews and was also dearly loved by her one and only sister-in-law, Debra. Her unofficial role as the family librarian and archivist speaks to her deep reverence for legacy and memory.

Marlana’s intellectual brilliance and commitment to education were evident throughout her academic and professional journey. She graduated cum laude from John Carroll University and was a proud member of the honor society. She earned a Master’s in Education in Curriculum & Instruction from Purdue University, where she focused on English with an emphasis in rhetoric and composition. She was also salutatorian of Hoban Dominican High School and never stopped learning—or teaching.

Her career as an educator spanned decades. She taught as an English and reading instructor for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, served as an adjunct English instructor at Cuyahoga Community College, and taught composition at Purdue University. Most recently, she was a Teaching Assistant with the Community Literature Initiative (CLI), mentoring aspiring poets and writers across the country.

A gifted poet, Marlana released her debut collection, Taking Off My Black & White Saddle Shoes: Cleveland Poems, in May 2024 through World Stage Press. A memoir in verse, the collection captured the soul of her life’s journey—from her Cleveland roots to her vibrant presence in Arizona. She was featured in multiple anthologies including 1619 Speaks: An Anthology of African American Poets and Dimepiece: Ten Years of CLI Poetry, and was a contributing author to Indiscernibles in Arizona, a groundbreaking collection of Black narratives.

But Marlana’s talents and dedication didn’t end with the written word. She performed her work widely, including a showstopping delivery of her Star Wars–inspired poem, Let the Fierce Be With Us, at the 19th Annual Go Red for Women Luncheon, in front of over 600 attendees. She also graced the stage as a cast member of For Colored Girls and was recently featured on KNAU Arizona Public Radio’s PoetrySnaps! series, reading her powerful piece Our Giant Steps in honor of her late husband Marvin and their love of jazz.

Beyond literature, Marlana was a passionate activist and community servant. She volunteered with Mission for Arizona and Save Our Schools Arizona, and she helped launch Project Humanities 101 at Arizona State University—an initiative dedicated to fostering empathy and connection through outreach and education.

Marlana’s style and spirit were unforgettable. Fashionable to her core, she took after her mother in always wearing the perfect accessories—often with pink or red lipstick and a statement shirt to match. She loved cooking, celebrating her heritage, and preserving family history. Her insight and bold presence filled every room she entered.

Marlana lived a life of beauty, purpose, and Black excellence. She believed in showing up for others and in lifting as she climbed. She was never boring—always curious, creative, and inspiring. Thousands of students, fellow poets, and loved ones have been transformed by her light.

She wrote, she taught, she served, she loved—and she looked fabulous doing it.

Marlana Patrice Pugh Hamer’s words will never be forgotten. Her legacy is forever woven into the lives she touched, and her love continues to live on in all who knew her.

As stated in one of her poems entitled, Please Don’t Call Me “Marla”, let us remember this legend known as Marlana, Marlana-Patrice, Auntie, Aunt Marti, Mrs. Hamer, Sister, Gorgeous, Beautiful, Reader, Speaker, Teacher, Poet, and Poetess.

Just one request—whatever you do, please, don’t call her Marla.

A closed casket visitation will be held on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 10:00 AM, followed by a Celebration of Her Life at 11:00 AM at San Tan Mountain View Funeral Home, 21809 S. Ellsworth Rd., Queen Creek, Arizona, 85142.  Immediately following her service, Marlana will be laid to rest at San Tan Memorial Gardens, 22425 E. Could Rd., Queen Creek, Arizona, 85142.